The Grand Hotel York to Open New Cookery School in 2019

A new cookery school is scheduled to open in March 2019 at the luxurious The Grand Hotel York, located a few minutes’ walk from York station. Described as ‘a place to relax, have fun, make friends, and learn something new’, this new culinary venture promises to cook up a storm in the north.

Sessions will range from £65 for a half-day to full day courses from £145 led by expert tutors. Guests will learn how to prepare authentic dishes, with fresh local produce at the heart of each creation. As well as corporate days, there will also be academy classes for those looking to advance their skills. Even the kids will have an opportunity to get involved with bespoke classes during the holidays.

Perfect for developing cooking knowledge or to spend time with friends or family, the classes will be designed to appeal to all abilities, from novice to Nigel Slater.

Philip Bolson, General Manager at The Grand, York, says: ‘‘The nation’s love affair with cooking shows no sign of abating; our new cookery school promises to satiate the appetite with an array of courses, experiences and events to inspire and impress.”

With over 2500 square foot of space, the cookery school will have 16 workstations equipped with a state-of-the-art induction hob, electric oven and premium cookery equipment. The purpose-built space will offer an adjoining meeting area with tea and coffee stations as well as a separate, state-of-the-art screening room created for lectures, talks, and non-cooking demonstrations. There will also be an external courtyard complete with herb garden and seating area.

The space will be fully wheelchair accessible offering a station and place in the demo area with wheelchair-friendly heights, as well as step-free access throughout.

The design, by Gareth Syms from Mackenzie Wheeler, is contemporary and open-plan; bi-folding doors and glass panelling connect the spaces whilst flooding them with light to provide an interactive, flowing working environment.

Assisting with the set-up phase is experienced chef and cookery consultant, Rob Cottam, who oversaw the development of cookery school at Chewton Glen. Working on a consultant basis, Rob will be assisting with the design, recruitment and supplier liaison, as well as overseeing the class schedule. With his extensive experience in the hospitality industry and product development, having Rob onboard will set precedent to what will strive to be one of the best cookery schools in the UK.

Corporate bookings are available now. Pre-bookings for consumers will be available from December. The project is one of the final stages of The Grand Hotel’s £15 million expansion and refurbishment scheme, which includes 100 new luxury bedrooms and refurbishment of two restaurants, The Rise and Hudsons by Craig Atchinson.